I'd like to fill several huge beds with peonies next year, and am trying to figure out a cheap source. They seem to run at least $10-$15 a plant at garden centers, and I don't have much faith in mail-order perennials.

Would an ad in the local paper would be worthwhile? Something along the lines of "Will pay $2.50 each for healthy, fresh decent-sized peony divisions, any variety, minimum of 10?"

Does that seem like a nutty idea?